1- Paint and paint! The first thing we did in our last pokey cavern filled with pine was to throw up some white paint. INSTANT brightness and it took about 3 hours. We then took to painting shelves and units in bright colours knowing it would be so easy to take them down and repaint if we ever wanted a change.

2-Hang tea towels. If you have a frame, frame a retro tea towel (available at all good second hand shops!) or if no frame use a dowel like the cunning Mel Wiggins.

3- Packets are ugly, lentils are bright! Stick pastas and dried beans in big jars (hey, also available in all good second hand shops!) and leave them on counter tops and shelves. The different colours and textures will add a lovely curiosity to your kitchen.

5- Take an hour to add some pizazz to your cutlery or utensils. A bit of bright paint on the handles mean you can have these in a tin on the counter looking all glam and free up a drawer for something you don’t want on show.

You know the saying- the fridge maketh the kitchen. (I actually made this saying up the day we drove 200 miles and back to pick up a retro-style fridge, and then had to go to extreme lengths to squeeze it … read more